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Roboexotica

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Roboexotica
Statusactive
Genrefestival, exhibition
Frequencyannually
Location(s)Vienna
CountryAustria
Inauguratedfounded 1999 (1999)
Attendance1,500–3,000
Organized bymonochrom, Shifz
Websiteroboexotica.com

Roboexotica (sometimes spelled: Roböxotica) is an annual festival and conference where scientists, researchers, computer experts and artists from all over the world build cocktail robots and discuss technological innovation, futurology and science fiction.[1][2] Roboexotica is also an ironic attempt to criticize techno-triumphalism and to dissect technological hypes.[3][4]

The festival is currently produced by art collective monochrom. Until 2018, the festival was a cooperation of monochrom, Shifz, and the 'Bureau for Philosophy' (of the Department of Philosophy, University of Vienna).

The festival is usually held in the end of November or early December.

Overview

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The annual international festival consists of an exhibition, a conference, social events, and the ACRA (Annual Cocktail Robot Award).

The exhibition presents robots that can mix cocktails, serve cocktails, consume cocktails, have bar conversations, light or smoke cigarettes or manage to impress the jury with (quote Roboexotica website) "other achievements in the sector of cocktail culture".

Cocktail robot at Roboexotica 2007 in Vienna, Austria

History

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Starting in 1993, art and technology group monochrom (Johannes Grenzfurthner, Franz Ablinger) published an alternative magazine and online bulletin that featured blueprints for interesting DIY projects (like creating a DIY isolation tank or building a rocket out of an office water cooler) and released articles and pamphlets that criticized the "uninspired and martial" machine culture (e.g. poking fun at Survival Research Labs and etoy) and supported a more playful way to create robots, specifically demanding that robots should "party with us, not work for us."[5] In 1999, Magnus Wurzer and Chris Veigl (of Shifz) presented a self-made bar robot at the small independent Viennese culture and art space VEKKS.[6] monochrom took interest and participated with performances and presented machines, and soon teamed up with Shifz as organizers and the small event became a big international festival presented at Vienna's Museumsquartier and several other locations in the Vienna metro area.[7][8] Roboexotica presents around 20 machines every year and draws around 3000 guests per event. The event is attracting robot builders from all over the world.[9][10]

Roboexotica was presented at Cyberpipe (Ljubljana) in 2006,[11] at Maker Faire (San Francisco) and RoboGames (San Francisco) in 2007.

This is the first 3D printer Bre Pettis put together while an artist-in-residence at art group monochrom in Vienna, Austria in autumn 2007.

Bre Pettis got inspired during an art residency in Vienna with Johannes Grenzfurthner/monochrom in 2007,[12] when he wanted to create a robot that could print shot glasses for Roboexotica and did research about the RepRap project at the Vienna hackerspace Metalab.[13] Shot glasses remained a theme throughout the history of MakerBot.[14]

In 2008 a catalogue titled Roboexotica was published, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the festival.[15] The book features reflections on the festival and presents statements by former participants including Cory Doctorow, Dorkbot's Doueglas Repetto, Bre Pettis, V. Vale, Karen Marcelo of Survival Research Laboratories or RoboGames' David Calkins and Simone Davalos.[16]

A smaller show called "Roboexotica USA" was held in San Francisco in 2008 and 2009.[17] It was organized by monochrom and Shifz and was well received by the press. In 2010 it was decided to rename the San Francisco-based cocktail robot event "Barbot,"[18] and Barbot events were held in San Francisco in 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

Johannes Grenzfurthner and Chase Masterson at Roboexotica, November 2018

Chase Masterson was special guest star at the 20th anniversary edition of the cocktail robot festival, and performed a live jazz set for "robots and humans".[19][20]

In 2020 and 2021 the festival was adapted into a delivery service. monochrom offered to bring cocktail robots in a van to customers in the greater Vienna area and mix cocktails for them. The whole event was live-streamed as a videocast and hosted by Johannes Grenzfurthner, who also interviewed artists and technologists from all around the globe.[21]

In 2022, Roboexotica was invited to host the opening night party at Fantastic Fest.[22]

Reception

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Roboexotica has been featured in Slashdot,[23] Wired News,[24] Reuters,[25] New York Times,[26] CNet[27] and blogs like Boing Boing[28] and New Scientist.[29]

References

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  1. ^ Steffan, Philip (18 December 2015). "Roboexotica 2015: Festival für Cocktail-Robotik startet in Wien". Heise Newsticker. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  2. ^ Atherton, Kelsey D. (8 January 2016). "IARPA Wants Human-Like Robot Brains". Popular Science. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  3. ^ Grenzfurthner, Johannes; Friesinger, Günther; Wurzer, Magnus (2008). Roboexotica. edition mono/monochrom. ISBN 978-3-9502372-3-8.
  4. ^ Mühl, Martin (24 November 2017). "Roböxotica: Drinks und Palatschinken vom Roboter serviert". The Gap. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  5. ^ Frena, Bernhard (13 December 2023). "»Wenn unsere Apparate Menschen ersetzen, haben wir grob was falsch gemacht« – Johannes Grenzfurthner im Interview zur Roboexotica". The Gap. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  6. ^ "V.E.K.K.S". Vekks.yi.org. Archived from the original on 2012-03-05. Retrieved 2012-03-29.
  7. ^ Fischer, Christian. "Roboexotica: Das Festival für Cocktailrobotik". Der Standard. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  8. ^ "Roboexotica: 19. Cocktail-Festival für Roboter in Wien". FutureZone. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  9. ^ Health, Mary Shinn. "Durango inventor combines music, robots and booze". Durango Herald. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  10. ^ Grenzfurthner, Johannes. "The wonderful world of cocktail robotics". HOPE 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Simulator vožnje pod vplivom alkohola". Studentarija. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  12. ^ "MakerBot hat seinen Ursprung in Wien und würde sich an HP verkaufen". 3druck. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  13. ^ Interview in 'Open Design Now', published by Waag
  14. ^ "Startup unveils 3-D scanner at SXSW | CNN Business". CNN. 2013-03-09. Archived from the original on 2022-11-16.
  15. ^ Grenzfurthner, Johannes; Friesinger, Günther; Wurzer, Magnus (2008). Roboexotica. edition mono/monochrom. ISBN 978-3-9502372-3-8.
  16. ^ Grenzfurthner, Johannes. "The wonderful world of cocktail robotics". HOPE 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  17. ^ Wortham, Jenna. "Bot Bartenders Sling Drinks at Roboexotica USA". Wired. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  18. ^ Tarantola, Andrew (29 October 2013). "A San Francisco Cocktail Party Where The Bartenders Are All Robots". Gizmodo. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  19. ^ "Cocktail". vienna.at. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  20. ^ Sagan, Sonja. "OTS0037, 20. Nov. 2018, 09:30 drucken als pdf als Text Roboexotica 2018 - Das Festival für Cocktailrobotik mit Star Trek Ehrengast Chase Masterson". ots.at. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  21. ^ "Wiener können von Robotern gemixte Cocktails bestellen". futurezone.at. 8 December 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  22. ^ "We've Got Fantastic News – Fantastic Fest is Back". drafthouse.com. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Roboexotica Event Pours Drinks in Vienna - Slashdot". 10 December 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  24. ^ Photo story about Roboexotica on wired.com
  25. ^ "Cocktail robots serve up drinks". Retrieved 11 June 2016 – via www.reuters.com.
  26. ^ "Just Like Mombot Used to Make". The New York Times. 24 February 2010. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  27. ^ Daniel, Terdiman. "Cocktail-serving robots invade Vienna this week". CNet. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  28. ^ says, Bonnie (21 November 2007). "Speaking in Vienna this weekend at Roboexotica: the cocktail robotics festival". Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  29. ^ "New Scientist Technology Blog: Cocktail robotics - not just for partying". Retrieved 11 June 2016.
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